Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), reported in a few small-scale studies, is not convincing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether acupuncture leads to better effects on CSU than sham acupuncture or waitlist control. DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900022994). SETTING: Three teaching hospitals in China from 27 May 2019 to 30 July 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 330 participants diagnosed with CSU. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist control over an 8-week study period (4 weeks for treatment and another 4 weeks for follow-up). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the mean change from baseline in the Weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) at week 4. Secondary outcomes included itch severity scores, self-rated improvement, and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores. RESULTS: The mean change in UAS7 (range, 0 to 42) for acupuncture from baseline (mean score, 23.5 [95% CI, 21.8 to 25.2]) to week 4 (mean score, 15.3 [CI, 13.6 to 16.9]) was -8.2 (CI, -9.9 to -6.6). The mean changes in UAS7 for sham acupuncture and waitlist control from baseline (mean scores, 21.9 [CI, 20.2 to 23.6] and 22.1 [CI, 20.4 to 23.8], respectively) to week 4 (mean scores, 17.8 [CI, 16.1 to 19.5] and 20.0 [CI, 18.3 to 21.6], respectively) were -4.1 (CI, -5.8 to -2.4) and -2.2 (CI, -3.8 to -0.5), respectively. The mean differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture and waitlist control were -4.1 (CI, -6.5 to -1.8) and -6.1 (CI, -8.4 to -3.7), respectively, which did not meet the threshold for minimal clinically important difference. Fifteen participants (13.6%) in the acupuncture group and none in the other groups reported adverse events. Adverse events were mild or transient. LIMITATION: Lack of complete blinding, self-reported outcomes, limited generalizability because antihistamine use was disallowed, and short follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Compared with sham acupuncture and waitlist control, acupuncture produced a greater improvement in UAS7, although the difference from control was not clinically significant. Increased adverse events were mild or transient. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: The National Key R&D Program of China and the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province.

A Reversible Fluorescent Probe for In Situ Monitoring Redox Imbalance during Mitophagy.

Mitophagy is the lysosome-dependent degradation of damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria, which is closely associated with H2O2-related redox imbalance and pathological processes. However, development of fast-responding and highly sensitive reversible fluorescent probes for monitoring of mitochondrial H2O2 dynamics is still lacking. Herein, we report a reversible fluorescent probe (M-HP) that enables real-time imaging of H2O2-related redox imbalance. In vitro studies demonstrated that M-HP had a rapid response and high sensitivity to the H2O2/GSH redox cycle, with a detection limit of 17 nM for H2O2. M-HP was applied to imaging of H2O2 fluctuation in living cells with excellent reversibility and mitochondrial targeting. M-HP reveals an increase in mitochondrial H2O2 under lipopolysaccharide stimulation and a decrease in H2O2 following the combined treatment with rapamycin. This suggests that the level of oxidative stress is significantly suppressed after the enhancement of mitophagy. The rationally designed M-HP offers a powerful tool for understanding redox imbalance during mitophagy.

The effect of triethylamine on dye-sensitized upconversion luminescence and its application in nanoprobes and photostability.

Triethylamine (TEA) is an effective medium for inhibiting dye aggregation and improving the luminescence of dye-sensitized lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). However, excessive TEA will cause quenching of upconversion luminescence. In this paper, the possible mechanism of TEA affecting upconversion luminescence is discussed. It is found that TEA can enhance the nucleophilicity of the solvent, leading to dye shedding from the nanoparticles. Reducing the dielectric constant of the solvent can make TEA play a more positive role in upconversion luminescence and photostability of dye-sensitized UCNPs. When heptanol is selected as the solvent for CyBSO-sensitized ß-NaYF4:20%Yb3+,2%Er3+ (UNs), TEA can increase the upconversion luminescence by 6.0 times relative to that in methanol. More importantly, the optimal content of TEA in heptanol is 3700 times more than that in methanol. Under the action of large amounts of TEA in heptanol, a novel upconversion nanoprobe for detecting ascorbic acid is developed with a limit of detection of 0.103 µM and high selectivity over potential interfering species. Meanwhile, the high concentration of TEA in heptanol can improve the photostability of CyBSO-sensitized UNs by 10.4 times, which is of paramount importance for the practical application of dye-sensitized UCNPs.

Accumulation of LDL/ox-LDL in the necrotic region participates in osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a pathological and in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common but intractable disease that appears to involve lipid metabolic disorders. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are closely associated with ONFH, there is limited evidence to explain the pathological role of LDL. Pathological and in vitro studies were performed to investigate the role of disordered metabolism of LDL and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) in the femoral head in the pathology of ONFH. METHODS: Nineteen femoral head specimens from patients with ONFH were obtained for immunohistochemistry analysis. Murine long-bone osteocyte Y4 cells were used to study the effects of LDL/ox-LDL on cell viability, apoptosis, and metabolism process of LDL/ox-LDL in osteocytes in normoxic and hypoxic environments. RESULTS: In the pathological specimens, marked accumulation of LDL/ox-LDL was observed in osteocytes/lacunae of necrotic regions compared with healthy regions. In vitro studies showed that ox-LDL, rather than LDL, reduced the viability and enhanced apoptosis of osteocytes. Pathological sections indicated that the accumulation of ox-LDL was significantly associated with impaired blood supply. Exposure to a hypoxic environment appeared to be a key factor leading to LDL/ox-LDL accumulation by enhancing internalisation and oxidation of LDL in osteocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The accumulation of LDL/ox-LDL in the necrotic region may contribute to the pathology of ONFH. These findings could provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of ONFH.

Accurate angle estimation based on moment for multirotation computation imaging.

In a multirotation computation imaging system, the fidelity of the reconstructed result is limited by the accuracy of the estimated rotation angles. Here, an accurate angle detection method using image moment is proposed to estimate angles of diffraction images. The second moment of a digital image is adopted as the rotational inertia in order to estimate angles of diffraction images. Compared with previous versions based on Radon/Hough transform, it has higher accuracy and is simultaneously time-saving, which is verified in both simulation and experiment. The angle error of moment method is narrowed down within 0.1°, or even less, and it also can perform well in sample diversity or when slightly out of focus.

Rifampin suppresses osteoclastogenesis and titanium particle-induced osteolysis via modulating RANKL signaling pathways.

Wear particles liberated from the surface of prostheses are considered to be main reason for osteoclast bone resorption and that extensive osteoclastogenesis leads to peri-implant osteolysis and subsequent prosthetic loosening. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rifampin on osteoclastogenesis and titanium (Ti) particle-induced osteolysis. The Ti particle-induced osteolysis mouse calvarial model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were used. Rifampin, at dose of 10 or 50 mg/kg/day, was respectively given intraperitoneally for 14 days in vivo. The calvariae were removed and processed for Further histological analysis. In vitro, osteoclasts were generated from mouse BMMs with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and the macrophage colony stimulating factor. Rifampin at different concentrations was added to the medium. The cell viability, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, TRAP activity and resorption on bone slices were analysis. Osteoclast-specific genes and RANKL-induced MAPKs signaling were tested for further study of the mechanism. Rifampin inhibited Ti-induced osteolysis and osteoclastogenesis in vivo. In vitro data indicated that rifampin suppressed osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, rifampin significantly reduced the expression of osteoclast-specific markers, including TRAP, cathepsin K, V-ATPase d2, V-ATPase a3, c-Fos, and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1. Further investigation revealed that rifampin inhibited osteoclast formation by specifically abrogating RANKL-induced p38 and NF-κB signaling. Rifampin had significant potential for the treatment of particle-induced peri-implant osteolysis and other diseases caused by excessive osteoclast formation and function.

Endogenous controls of gene expression in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced T-cell lymphoma in p53-deficient mice.

BACKGROUND: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an increasingly important technique for gene expression profiling because it can provide insights into complex biological and pathological processes and be used to predict disease or treatment outcomes. Although normalized data are necessary for an accurate estimation of mRNA expression levels, several pieces of evidence suggest that the expression of so-called housekeeping genes is not stable. This study aimed to validate reference genes for the normalization of real-time PCR in an N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced T-cell lymphoma mouse model. METHODS: T-cell lymphomas were generated in p53-deficient mice by treatment with 37.5 mg/kg MNU. Thymus and spleen were identified as the primary target organs with the highest incidences of lymphomas. We analyzed the RNA expression levels of eight potential endogenous reference genes (Gapdh, Rn18s, Actb, Hprt, B2M, Rplp0, Gusb, Ctbp1). The expression stabilities of these reference genes were tested at different time points after MNU treatment using geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. RESULTS: A total of 65% of MNU-treated mice developed T-cell lymphomas, with the spleen and thymus as the major target organs. All candidate reference genes were amplified efficiently by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Gene stability evaluation after MNU treatment and during lymphomagenesis revealed that Ctbp1 and Rplp0 were the most stably expressed genes in the thymus and spleen, respectively. RT-PCR of thymus RNA using two additional sets of primer confirmed that Ctbp1 was the most stable of all the candidate reference genes. CONCLUSIONS: We provided suitable endogenous controls for gene expression studies in the T-cell lymphoma model.

Analysis of altered microRNA expression profile in the reparative interface of the femoral head with osteonecrosis.

The reparative reaction is considered to be important during the occurrence of collapse in the femoral head with osteonecrosis (ONFH), but little is known about the long-term reparative process. The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the altered microRNA expression profile in the reparative interface of ONFH, and further validate the expression of the involved genes in the predicted pathways. Microarray analysis was performed comparing the reparative interface of patients with ONFH and normal tissue of patients with fresh femoral neck fracture (FNF) and partly validated by real-time PCR. Potential target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by TargetScan and miRanda, and the target genes were used for further bioinformatics analysis such as Gene Ontology and Pathway assay. The filtered miRNAs and genes in the predict pathways were further examined by real-time PCR in another 6 independent ONFH patients. Among the 2578 miRNAs identified, 17 were consistently differentially expressed, 12 of which are up-regulated and 5 down-regulated. GO classification showed that the predicted target genes of these miRNAs are involved in signal transduction, cell differentiation, methylation, cell growth and apoptosis. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) classification indicated that these genes play a role in angiogenesis and Wnt signaling pathways. The expression of miR-34a and miR-146a and genes in the predict pathways were significantly up-regulated. This study presented a global view of miRNA expression in the reparative interface of osteonecrosis. In addition, our data provided novel and robust information for further researches in the pathogenesis and molecular events of ONFH.

Evaluation of synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells and 3D printed nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Stem cells and scaffolds play a very important role in tissue engineering. Here, we isolated synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) from synovial membrane tissue and characterized stem-cell properties. Gelatin nanoparticles (NP) were prepared using a two-step desolvation method and then pre-mixed into different host matrix (silk fibroin (SF), gelatin (Gel), or SF-Gel mixture) to generate various 3D printed nanocomposite scaffolds (NP/SF, NP/SF-Gel, NP/Gel-1, and NP/Gel-2). The microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Biocompatibility assessment was performed through CCK-8 assay by coculturing with SMSCs at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. According to the results, SMSCs are similar to other MSCs in their surface epitope expression, which are negative for CD45 and positive for CD44, CD90, and CD105. After incubation in lineage-specific medium, SMSCs could differentiate into chondrocytes, osteocytes and adipocytes. 3D printed nanocomposite scaffolds exhibited a good biocompatibility in the process of coculturing with SMSCs and had no negative effect on cell behavior. The study provides a strategy to obtain SMSCs and fabricate 3D printed nanocomposite scaffolds, the combination of which could be used for practical applications in tissue engineering.

Predictive value of single photon emission computerized tomography and computerized tomography in osteonecrosis after femoral neck fracture: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a very common complication after femoral neck fracture. The purpose of this study was to assess the femoral head vascularity after femoral neck fracture using single photon emission computerized tomography and computerized tomography (SPECT/CT), and to evaluate its value in predicting ONFH. METHODS: Between January 2008 and March 2011, 120 patients diagnosed with femoral neck fracture underwent SPECT-CT before the internal fixation. The fracture was classified according to the Garden classification. The ratios of the radionuclide uptake of the fractured femoral head to that of the contralateral femoral head (F/N) were calculated to assess the femoral head vascularity. After a minimum of two years' follow-up, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used as the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of possible ONFH. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients completed the study. The SPECT/CT examination showed that the F/N ratios of Garden I, II, III and IV were 2.6, 1.8, 0.8, and 0.6, respectively. At the time of the most recent follow-up, osteonecrosis developed in two of the 27 patients who had a Garden Stage-II fracture, in eight of the 34 patients who had a Garden Stage-III fracture, and nine of the 27 patients who had a Garden Stage-VI fracture. With a cutoff of 0.55 from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, F/N ratio showed a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 79%, a positive predictive value of 95%, and a negative predictive value of 19%. CONCLUSION: SPECT-CT proved to be reliable and valid for predicting ONFH after femoral neck fracture.

A state-of-the-art review on biomass-derived carbon materials for supercapacitor applications: From precursor selection to design optimization.

Biomass-derived carbon materials have the characteristics of a wide range of precursor sources, controllable carbon nano-dimension, large specific surface area and abundant heteroatoms doping. At present, biomass-derived carbon materials have been widely used in electrochemical energy storage devices, especially the research and development of biomass-derived carbon materials for supercapacitors has become mature and in-depth. Therefore, it is of importance to summarize the advanced technologies and strategies for optimizing biomass-derived carbon materials for supercapacitors, which will effectively promote the further development of high-performance supercapacitors. In this review, the recent research progress of biomass-derived carbon materials is provided in detail, including the selection of biomass precursors, the design of carbon nano-dimension and the theory of heteroatom doping. Besides, the preparation methods of biomass-derived carbon materials and the related processes of optimizing the electrochemical performance are also summarized. This review ends with the perspectives for future research directions and challenges in the field of biomass-derived carbon materials for electrochemical applications. This review aims to provide helpful reference information for the nano-dimensional design and electrochemical performance optimization of biomass-derived carbon materials for the practical application of supercapacitors.

Dye-sensitized lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoprobe for enhanced sensitive detection of Fe3+ in human serum and tap water.

Iron ion (Fe3+) detection is crucial for human health since it plays a crucial role in many physiological activities. In this work, a novel Schiff-base functionalized cyanine derivative (CyPy) was synthesized, which was successfully assembled on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) through an amphiphilic polymer encapsulation method. In the as-designed nanoprobe, CyPy, a recognizer of Fe3+, is served as energy donor and ß-NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles are adopted as energy acceptor. As a result, a 93-fold enhancement of upconversion luminescence is achieved. The efficient energy transfer from CyPy to ß-NaYF4:Yb,Er endows the nanoprobe a high sensitivity for Fe3+ in water with a low detection limit of 0.21 µM. Moreover, the nanoprobe has been successfully applied for Fe3+ determination in human serum and tap water samples with recovery ranges of 95 %-105 % and 97 %-106 %, respectively. Moreover, their relative standard deviations are all below 3.72 %. This work provides a sensitive and efficient methodology for Fe3+ detection in clinical and environmental testing.

FoxO3 Regulates Mouse Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate and Bone-Fat Balance During Skeletal Aging.

Age-related osteoporosis is characterized by an imbalance between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Forkhead box O 3 (FoxO3) transcription factor is involved in lifespan and cell differentiation. In this study, we explore whether FoxO3 regulates age-related bone loss and marrow fat accumulation. The expression levels of FoxO3 in BMSCs during aging were detected in vivo and in vitro. To explore the role of FoxO3 in osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, primary BMSCs were isolated from young and aged mice. FoxO3 expression was modulated by adenoviral vector transfection. The role of FoxO3 in bone-fat balance was evaluated by alizarin red S staining, oil red O staining, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and histological analysis. Age-related bone loss and fat deposit are associated with downregulation of FoxO3. Overexpression of FoxO3 alleviated age-related bone loss and marrow fat accumulation in aged mice. Mechanistically, FoxO3 reduced adipogenesis and enhanced osteogenesis of BMSCs via downregulation of PPAR-γ and Notch signaling, respectively. In conclusion, FoxO3 is an essential factor controlling the fate of BMSCs and is a potential target for the prevention of age-related osteoporosis.

A Bionic Thermosensitive Sustainable Delivery System for Reversing the Progression of Osteoarthritis by Remodeling the Joint Homeostasis.

Although the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear, inflammatory cytokines are related to its occurrence. However, few studies focused on the therapeutic strategies of regulating joint homeostasis by simultaneously remodeling the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory microenvironments. Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) is the only disease-modifying OA drug (DMOAD) with a potent ability and high efficiency in maintaining the phenotype of chondrocytes within cell culture models. However, its potential role in the immune microenvironment remains unknown. Besides, information on an optimal carrier, whose interface and chondral-biomimetic microenvironment mimic the native articular tissue, is still lacking, which substantially limits the clinical efficacy of FGF18. Herein, to simulate the cartilage matrix, chondroitin sulfate (ChS)-based nanoparticles (NPs) are integrated into poly(D, L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D, L-lactide) (PLEL) hydrogels to develop a bionic thermosensitive sustainable delivery system. Electrostatically self-assembled ChS and ε-poly-l-lysine (EPL) NPs are prepared for the bioencapsulation of FGF18. This bionic delivery system suppressed the inflammatory response in interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)-mediated chondrocytes, promoted macrophage M2 polarization, and inhibited M1 polarization, thereby ameliorating cartilage degeneration and synovitis in OA. Thus, the ChS-based hydrogel system offers a potential strategy to regulate the chondrocyte-macrophage crosstalk, thus re-establishing the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory microenvironment for OA therapy.

New anthracene derivatives as triplet acceptors for efficient green-to-blue low-power upconversion.

Three new anthracene derivatives [2-chloro-9,10-dip-tolylanthracene (DTACl), 9,10-dip-tolylanthracene-2-carbonitrile (DTACN), and 9,10-di(naphthalen-1-yl)anthracene-2-carbonitrile (DNACN)] were synthesized as triplet acceptors for low-power upconversion. Their linear absorption, single-photon-excited fluorescence, and upconversion fluorescence properties were studied. The acceptors exhibit high fluorescence yields in DMF. Selective excitation of the sensitizer Pd(II)octaethylporphyrin (PdOEP) in solution containing DTACl, DTACN, or DNA-CN at 532 nm with an ultralow excitation power density of 0.5 W cm(-2) results in anti-Stokes blue emission. The maximum upconversion quantum yield (Φ(UC) =17.4%) was obtained for the couple PdOEP/DTACl. In addition, the efficiency of the triplet-triplet energy transfer process was quantitatively studied by quenching experiments. Experimental results revealed that a highly effective acceptor for upconversion should combine high fluorescence quantum yields with efficient quenching of the sensitizer triplet.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Niphotrichum japonicum provides new insights into heat stress responses in mosses.

With a diversity of approximately 22,000 species, bryophytes (hornworts, liverworts, and mosses) represent a major and diverse lineage of land plants. Bryophytes can thrive in many extreme environments as they can endure the stresses of drought, heat, and cold. The moss Niphotrichum japonicum (Grimmiaceae, Grimmiales) can subsist for extended periods under heat and drought conditions, providing a good candidate for studying the genetic basis underlying such high resilience. Here, we de novo assembled the genome of N. japonicum using Nanopore long reads combined with Hi-C scaffolding technology to anchor the 191.61 Mb assembly into 14 pseudochromosomes. The genome structure of N. japonicum's autosomes is mostly conserved and highly syntenic, in contrast to the sparse and disordered genes present in its sex chromosome. Comparative genomic analysis revealed the presence of 10,019 genes exclusively in N. japonicum. These genes may contribute to the species-specific resilience, as demonstrated by the gene ontology (GO) enrichment. Transcriptome analysis showed that 37.44% (including 3,107 unique genes) of the total annotated genes (26,898) exhibited differential expression as a result of heat-induced stress, and the mechanisms that respond to heat stress are generally conserved across plants. These include the upregulation of HSPs, LEAs, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging genes, and the downregulation of PPR genes. N. japonicum also appears to have distinctive thermal mechanisms, including species-specific expansion and upregulation of the Self-incomp_S1 gene family, functional divergence of duplicated genes, structural clusters of upregulated genes, and expression piggybacking of hub genes. Overall, our study highlights both shared and species-specific heat tolerance strategies in N. japonicum, providing valuable insights into the heat tolerance mechanism and the evolution of resilient plants.

[Effect of collagen sponge on the healing process of alveolar fossa after tooth extraction in rats].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of collagen sponge on early bone healing process of alveolar fossa after tooth extraction in rats. METHODS: A total of 16 healthy female SD rats were selected. Animal models with tooth extraction were established. The right alveolar fossa inserted with collagen sponge was as the experimental group, and the left alveolar fossa was as the control group with treatment. The rats were sacrificed 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after tooth extraction, and the osteogenesis of alveolar fossa was observed. Real-time quantitative PCR (qt-PCR) was used to detect the changes of osteogenesis related gene expression. SPSS 19.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: After surgery, alveolar cavity healing was significantly better in the experimental group than in the control group. Osterix, Runx2 and Vegf genes were expressed in the experimental group and the control group, and the expression levels of related genes in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Collagen sponge could promote early alveolar bone healing, possibly related to the expression level of osteogenic genes regulated by collagen sponge.

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Visceral Hypersensitivity in IBS-D Rats by Inhibiting EGCs Activity through Regulating BDNF/TrkB Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) could alleviate visceral hypersensitivity in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) rats by inhibiting EGCs activity via the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided to a control group (n = 8) and a model preparation group (n = 32), which received Senna solution by gavage and CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) for 14 consecutive days and was further divided to a Model group, an EA group (only electroacupuncture), an EA + TrkB agonist group (electroacupuncture and TrkB), and an EA + DMSO group (electroacupuncture and DMSO, n = 8 for each). Rats in the three EA groups were acupunctured at ST25, ST36, and LR3 for 20 min every day for 14 days. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was used to quantify visceral sensitivity; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and double immunofluorescent staining were used to detect the colocalized expression of GFAP/BDNF and GFAP/TrkB. Western Blot (WB) was used to detect the expression of PLC and SP in the colon. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Ca2+. RESULTS: EA effectively alleviated visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the expression of BDNF, TrkB, PLC, SP, and Ca2+ and the colocalized expression of GFAP/BDNF and GFAP/TrkB increased in the Model group (P < 0.05), while all these parameters decreased in the EA group following EA intervention (P < 0.05). In addition, no significant difference was found between the EA + TrkB agonist group and the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA alleviates visceral hypersensitivity of IBS-D rats possibly by inhibiting the activity of EGCs through the BDNF/TrkB-PLC-Ca2+ signaling pathway in the colon.

C-H⋠⋠⋠π interaction-modulated solid-state packing and carrier mobility in thienyl and thieno[3,2-b]thienyl end-capped distyrylarylene derivatives.

Research on structure-property relationships in distyrylarylene derivatives is far behind their wide applications in optoelectronic devices due to the absence of crystal structure information. Herein, the single crystals of 4,4'-bis(2-thienylvinyl)biphenyl (1) and 4,4'-bis(2-thieno[3,2-b]thienylvinyl)biphenyl (2) were successfully grown by the vapor transport method. Both molecules adopt the typical herringbone packing motif. However, the intermolecular C-H⋅⋅⋅π interaction in compound 2 is much stronger than that in compound 1. The correlations of interchain interaction with film morphology, optical and electronic properties were studied. Compound 2 formed higher crystalline films with (001) and (111) orientations. The organic field-effect transistor properties of both materials were investigated. Compound 2 showed better performance with a hole mobility higher than 0.01 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and an on/off current ratio over 10(6) . These results reveal that the intensity of C-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions can exert dramatic influences on the optical and electronic properties of distyrylarylene-based materials.

[FAK/c-Src signaling pathway mediates the expression of cell surface HSP90 in cultured human prostate cancer cells and its association with their invasive capability].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) on the cell surface of highly invasive human prostate cancer cells PC3 and its possible molecular mechanisms of its effect on cell invasion through analyzing FAK/Src signaling pathway. METHODS: The expression of cell surface HSP90 on PC3 cells was studied by immunofluorescence staining and surface biotinylation assay respectively. A specific HSP90 antibody was used to inhibit the cell surface HSP90. In vitro cell invasion was assessed by modified Boyden chambers. Phosphorylated FAK on tyr 397, 576, 577 and 925, and phosphorylated c-Src on tyr 416 were examined by Western blot assay. The association between FAK and c-Src was analyzed by immunoprecipitation. The effects of FAK knockdown by siRNA or Src kinases inhibitor PP2, with or without anti-HSP90 antibody, on PC3 cell invasion were also evaluated. RESULTS: A pool of HSP90 was detected on the cell surface of PC3 cells. A specific HSP90 antibody significantly retarded tumor cell invasion. Concomitant with this finding, targeting cell surface HSP90 significantly inhibited the phosphorylations of FAK and c-Src, and also the interactions between FAK and c-Src. FAK knockdown or PP2 dramatically suppressed cell invasion, however, anti-HSP90 antibody didn't further inhibit cell invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Cell surface HSP90 promotes human prostate cancer cell invasion through a FAK/c-Src signaling, with may be a novel therapeutic target against metastatic tumors.